The Best Cat Trees To Elevate Your Cat’s Views Of The House

Why do cats deserve the best cat trees? Take a moment and picture cats in the wild. What do you see? Maybe you pictured a leopard dragging its meal back to a tree, or a tired lion resting on its perch in the shade.

You probably know that your pet cats are not different from their larger cousins at all. But do you wonder why they need a tree?

Big cats are alpha predators, but they need safety too. Some big cats use their height advantage to hunt, giving them the drop on prey. Others use it to escape threats or protect their kill from scavengers.

Most importantly, a high place gives big cats a resting place where nothing can reach them. The best cat trees afford all these benefits to your house cats too, even if they don’t have to hunt for their next meal.

Why Get a Cat Tree?

Cats can be a bit mysterious. Sometimes they’re perfectly calm, and then suddenly they’re dashing through the house, out of control. Or they’re happily accepting your pets one second, then attacking your arm the next.

You’re forgiven for not always understanding what they want!

So, you may not realize that when your cat climbs up on the counter, or to the highest shelf they can reach, it’s not just to knock things onto the floor! Cats are vertical creatures. They need elevation to feel secure and comfortable.

If you have an easily frightened cat, the best cat trees offer security and surveillance. Cats like to know they can see their territory and survey any potential threats. Having a cat tree to call home could even calm your finicky feline!

For those of you with multiple cats, realize that cats need to establish a hierarchy. The oldest or highest ranking cat wants to be elevated to show their status.

If your cats are fighting regularly, it may be because they’re trying to establish dominance. A multi-level cat tree could balance this out.

How to find the best cat trees

So what makes the best cat trees stand out from the crowd?

It all depends on what your kitty needs, of course!

Like we mentioned, multiple cats may benefit from a multiple-level cat tree. That doesn’t just help them display dominance, though. A multi-level cat tree has a lot of places to sleep and play!

If your cat is a big sleepyhead, she may like a cat tree that is little more than a bed on a post. For more playful kitties, the best cat trees will have lots of things to keep their attention. That could include scratching posts and dangling toys, or hiding places to explore.

The best cat trees won’t limit your cat to just one activity. They’ll be an all-inclusive spot for your cat to play, live, and make sure their house is running smoothly.

Our Cat Tree Picking Process

There are so many cat trees out there. It can seem impossible to pick one. There are so many questions that determine the best cat tree, like how big they are, or how much they cost.

Fortunately, there are a lot of websites that do their best to narrow down the choices for you. The Spruce Pets,Cat Life Today, and New York Magazine have done their best to parse through the large numbers of trees out there and pick a few of the best cat trees for you.

Of course, their opinion helps trim down the field, but it doesn’t tell you which is really the best for your cat. To pick the one cat tree your kitty will love, we also look at customer reviews.

This cat tree is a budget option with three tiers and scratching post supports. It is four feet tall, so your cats can survey their home and still be in petting range. It’s not difficult to put together either and comes with all the tools you need.

[amazon link=”B003BYQ13M” title=”Armarkat Cat Tree Model A5201″ /]

[amazon box=”B003BYQ13M”]

The Armarkat Cat Tree Model A5201 is a smaller cat tree. It comes with one cat condo and two platforms reaching just over four feet tall. It’s an excellent pick for a single cat, but might not be enough to house multiple cats.

This cat tree will satisfy your cat and your wallet. It’s sturdy and comfortable but comes at a reasonable price. If you have a single cat who needs a place to survey their territory, this is a reliable option.

You can purchase the Armarkat Cat Tree Model A5201, Beige, from Amazon or Petco.

[amazon link=”B078RN3215″ title=”BEWISHOME Cat Tree Condo” /]

[amazon box=”B078RN3215″]

If your cat likes options, or you have a lot of sleepy kitties lying around, the BEWISHOME Cat Tree Condo is one of the best cat trees for you. It’s angled almost entirely towards comfortable sleep spots and string toys.

All of your cats can have their favorite bed on the BEWISHOME Cat Tree. It lets them choose between two elevated platforms, two condos, and a ground-level hammock. They won’t have to fight over toys either, because there are three places to play.

For a cat tree that houses a lot of sleeping cats at a low price, look no further. You can purchase it from Amazon or the BEWISHOME website.

[amazon link=”B00SOTG05S” title=”Catit Vesper High Base” /]

[amazon box=”B00SOTG05S”]

The ​Catit Vesper High Base cat tree looks as good as a piece of furniture as it works for your cats. This cat tree has a beautiful faux walnut finish, but that’s far from the only thing that will catch your eye.

The Vesper is ideal for cats who love to sit up high, with a four-foot max height and supportive scratching posts. It’s best for only one or two cats because it has just one den to sleep in. But, this den and the multiple platforms are well-cushioned.

Reviewers warned that it was not the easiest to assemble without watching a video with instructions. But once they constructed the tree, it was sturdy. You can purchase it at Amazon or the Catit website.

[amazon link=”B071CFXMZG” title=”FEANDREA Multi-Level Cat Tree” /]

[amazon box=”B071CFXMZG”]

This beast of a cat tree from Feandrea looks more like something you’d find in Star Wars than in your living room. Standing nearly six feet tall, this cat tower is cozy, welcoming, and safe.

At almost six feet tall, this cat tree just might be taller than you! But if you’re worried about your rambunctious pets knocking over this tower, know that this tower has a reinforced base and posts. You can also secure it to the wall for extra stability.

Numerous scratching posts and a ramp covered in sisal rope keep your cats’ claws trimmed. Two cat condos and three raised-edge platforms give them safe places to survey their domain.

While your cats may not be able to be quite as active due to the size, even the largest cats will be able to rest comfortably on this tree.

Numerous toys, including a spring toy, dangling toys, and an IQ Busy Box will make sure that this is more than a nap spot for your cat.

From top to bottom, this cat tree goes a bit further to give play options than sleep options. Most other cat trees we’ve looked at have a few hanging toys, but this tree has more variation.

Plus, it only has two cat condos and no dedicated sleeping platforms.

The unique IQ Busy Box isn’t found on any other cat tree. It uses a series of holes and jingle balls to pique your cat’s curiosity. If you need a way to keep your cats mentally and physically engaged, your search is over.

You can buy it from Amazon or the Furhaven website.

[amazon link=”B003WGGWQA” title=”Go Pet Club Cat Tree” /]

[amazon box=”B003WGGWQA”]

The ​Go Pet Club Cat Tree is a supersized cat tree reaching six feet tall. To fill this space, the Go Pet Club Cat Tree has 3 different towers that combine to give your cats an incredible 15 different platforms to rest on.

This cat tree also has two cat condos to give your kitty a safe place to hide.

This cat tree is an excellent option if you have multiple cats because there are a lot of elevated platforms. Your cats won’t have to fight to get a spot off the ground, and it could help smooth out some tension in your home.

You can purchase this cat tree at Amazon or the Go Pet Club website.

[amazon link=”B0091OLFQE” title=”Go Pet Club Cat Tree Condo House” /]

[amazon box=”B0091OLFQE”]

This smaller version of Go Pet Club’s cat tree is less than three feet high. It’s perfect for smaller spaces or fewer cats and doesn’t skimp on features.

Where this cat tree lacks in space, it makes up for in features. Two platforms and one condo still give your cat options for sleeping. A larger area with a ladder provides them with room to play with each other. There are also two hanging toys to help your felines stay active.

This cat tree is great for one or two cats in a smaller space. It’s a less expensive product while still giving your cat plenty of options.

Need somewhere to put a cat tree, but you’re finding yourself low on space? Try hanging your tree from a door instead. The K&H Pet Products Hangin’ Cat Condo gives your cat a place to climb and sleep without taking up too much space.

This cat tree mounts on pretty much any door. It has a lot of places for your kitty to get in and look out, with seven peepholes. Your cat can climb from bottom to top from within.

And it will hold up to anything your cats can throw at it, because of its rugged, waterproof fabric.

You can purchase this cat tree from Amazon or the K&H website.

[amazon link=”B01AOD7Q68″ title=”Paws & Pals Cat Tree” /]

[amazon box=”B01AOD7Q68″]

Got a lazy cat who wants a place to sleep? Maybe your apartment is a bit too small for one of the real high-end trees, or you don’t have enough cats to justify getting one.

If that sounds like you, try the Paws & Pals 20-inch cat tree. At only 20 inches high, this cat tree won’t take up too much space. It has two scratching posts that hold up a hammock and a dangling toy. What else could a cat ask for?

This cat tree is simple enough that it won’t drain your wallet or crowd you out of your living room. ​You can purchase it from Amazon or the Paws & Pals website.

The Best Cat Trees for the Best Cats

The best cat trees are the ones that your cats love best. But of course, your cat may enjoy the largest and most expensive tree on this list, even if your wallet, or your apartment, doesn’t.

If you need a small-scale or budget cat tree, one of the best cat trees is the Paws & Pals Cat Tree. It’s the least expensive cat tree that we’ve looked at here. It also is a reliable pick for a single cat who just wants their own perch to sleep in.

For those of you who want to scale up, the Catit Vesper High Base will give you high-quality materials worth the higher price tag. Washable memory foam cushions and a clean, faux wood finish complete the look of luxury.

Honestly, any of these would be the best. Choosing just depends on your cat.

What is the strangest thing your cat has tried to climb? Which are the best cat trees for your fur babies? Let us know in the comments!

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